chapter 19 - A moment of honesty
As the sun began to set, they finally stepped out of the water, sitting on a nearby rock, letting the warm air dry them.
Ira pulled her knees up, resting her chin on them as she stared at the sky. “I needed this,” she admitted softly.
Aarav leaned back on his hands, watching her. “I know.”
She turned to him, hesitating before speaking. “You… you don’t always have to be so cold, you know.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Cold?”
She nodded. “You pretend like nothing affects you, but I don’t believe that’s true.”
Aarav remained silent for a long moment. Then, to her surprise, he said, “It’s not.”
Ira blinked. She hadn’t expected him to agree so easily.
Aarav looked away, his jaw tightening. “I just don’t show it.”
Ira studied his face, feeling something stir inside her.
Before she could stop herself, she reached out and placed her hand over his.
Aarav stiffened slightly, his eyes snapping to hers.
“You don’t always have to do it alone,” she whispered.
His fingers twitched beneath hers.
For the first time, he didn’t pull away.
And for the first time, Ira realized—Aarav Malhotra wasn’t as untouchable as he seemed.
He was just as human as her.
Maybe even more.
When they returned to the Malhotra Mansion later that night, Ira expected everyone to be asleep.
She was wrong.
The moment they stepped inside, the entire family was waiting for them in the living room.
Kabir was the first to react. “Oh. My. God.”
Ira frowned. “What?”
Kabir dramatically held his chest. “Aarav Malhotra just took his wife out on a date. A date.”
Aarav rolled his eyes. “It wasn’t a date.”
Kabir turned to Hitesh. “Bade Papa, I think the world is ending.”
Hitesh nodded seriously. “It might be.”
Sunita and Nandini exchanged knowing smiles.
Rajesh chuckled. “You know, son, if you wanted to run away with your wife, you could have at least told us first.”
Ira’s face turned red. “I-It’s not like that!”
Kabir wiggled his eyebrows. “Oh? Then what was it?”
Ira opened her mouth to argue, but Aarav suddenly placed his hand on the small of her back.
“It’s late,” he said calmly. “We’re going to bed.”
And just like that, he led her away, ignoring the teasing remarks behind them.
But as they reached their room, Ira couldn’t help but hear Sunita whisper to Nandini—
“He’s changing.”
And for once…
Ira didn’t disagree.
As soon as they stepped inside their room, Ira let out a sigh, pressing her back against the door.
“That was… embarrassing.”
Aarav smirked, loosening his watch and placing it on the dresser. “Why?”
Ira gave him an exasperated look. “Why?! You just casually announced in front of the entire family that we were going somewhere! Now, they’re all acting like it’s some grand love story.”
Aarav walked toward her, his movements slow, deliberate. “And?”
Ira blinked. “And what?”
His smirk deepened. “Do you not want it to be?”
Her breath hitched. “W-What?”
Aarav raised a hand and gently tucked a loose strand of her hair behind her ear. His fingers lingered against her skin, making her heartbeat stutter.
“I asked,” he murmured, “do you not want this to be a love story?”
Ira’s throat went dry. She opened her mouth to respond but found herself speechless.
Aarav’s gaze dropped to her lips for a fleeting second before he leaned down, his voice teasing yet deep. “Careful, sweetheart. If you keep looking at me like that, I might start thinking you want me to kiss you.”
Ira’s eyes widened. “Aarav!”
He chuckled, stepping back, clearly enjoying the way her face turned a deep shade of red. “Go change. It’s late.”
Still flustered, Ira huffed and grabbed her nightwear, stomping toward the bathroom. “You are impossible!”
Aarav just smirked, watching her disappear behind the door.
Later that night, Ira lay in bed, staring at the ceiling.
The room was dimly lit, the only sound being the steady ticking of the clock. Aarav was beside her, his breathing calm, his presence a quiet comfort.
She turned her head slightly, watching him.
He looked peaceful in sleep—so different from his usual guarded self. His sharp features were relaxed, his lips slightly parted, his hair tousled against the pillow.
Her heart did an odd little flip.
She thought about everything that had happened that day. The way he had defended her, how he had taken her out just to make her feel better, and—most of all—the way he had looked at her by the lake.
Like she mattered.
Like she was his.
Ira exhaled softly, shaking her head. What are you doing to me, Aarav Malhotra?
Little did she know, Aarav wasn’t fully asleep.
His eyes remained closed, but he was hyper-aware of her every movement, every breath.
And when he felt her fingers lightly brush against his hand in hesitation, his lips curved into the smallest, faintest smile.
Maybe, just maybe…
The walls between them were finally starting to crumble.
______________
"Votes are like oxygen for a writer. Don’t let me suffocate!"